Laws by state

Delta-9

Where it is legal, restricted or banned in every US state we track, with the law behind each status and the latest news on changes.

Federal status

Marijuana-derived delta-9 THC remains a Schedule I controlled substance, except for FDA-approved drug products and marijuana under a state medical license, which a DEA rule moved to Schedule III in April 2026. Hemp-derived delta-9 products are legal federally if they contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, but starting December 11, 2026 hemp products are capped at 0.4 mg total THC per container.

Status by state ·

Delta-9

Legal status in every state

All compounds, all states

State

Status

Limits

Key law

We don't track this cannabinoid state by state yet. The table below compares the five compounds we do track.

Open the state-by-state map

Overview

What to know

Delta-9 THC is the main intoxicating compound in cannabis. It is the THC in state-licensed marijuana, and it is also the THC in hemp-derived edibles and drinks sold outside dispensaries, which have used the 2018 Farm Bill's 0.3% dry-weight limit to reach 5 mg or 10 mg doses in heavier products like gummies.

Federal law treats those two sources very differently. Marijuana is still Schedule I, apart from a narrow April 2026 DEA rule that moved FDA-approved marijuana drugs and state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III. Adult-use marijuana remains Schedule I, and a DEA hearing on broader rescheduling finished its record this summer with no decision yet. Hemp-derived delta-9, meanwhile, has been sold nationally wherever states allow it.

That hemp channel shrinks sharply on December 11, 2026, when the federal hemp definition adds a 0.4 mg total-THC per-container cap. A 5 mg gummy or a 10 mg drink would be well over that limit. Congress is considering bills that would delay the change or set up a regulated market, but none has passed. Check your state's rules, since many states have set their own caps and licensing.

Latest

Latest news and analysis

All news

FAQ

Common questions

Is hemp-derived delta-9 legal federally?

Yes, for now, if the product contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Starting December 11, 2026, a hemp product must also contain no more than 0.4 mg total THC per container, which rules out typical THC gummies and drinks.

Is marijuana Schedule III now?

Only in part. An April 2026 DEA rule moved FDA-approved marijuana drug products and marijuana held under a state medical license to Schedule III. All other marijuana, including adult-use, remains Schedule I while a broader rescheduling proceeding is pending.

Will THC drinks and gummies be banned in November 2026?

The federal cap now starts December 11, 2026, not November 12. On that date, hemp-derived products with more than 0.4 mg total THC per container fall outside the federal hemp definition.

What is the difference between hemp delta-9 and marijuana delta-9?

The molecule is the same. The legal difference is the source and concentration: hemp is cannabis at or below the federal THC limits, and anything above them is marijuana under federal law.